If you're looking to size up from a smaller house or apartment but a more sizeable family home seems financially out of reach then maybe a renovation project is the way to move onwards and upwards on the property ladder?
Of course taking on a rundown house or a home that needs major upgrading of vital aspects, such as electrics and plumbing, costs money so you'll need to have a renovation budget stashed away down the back of the sofa.
And if you have family and friends in the trades, and are handy with a spot of DIY too, that can save you a slice of cash.
READ MORE: The amazing story of the woman renovating a dilapidated Welsh castle she didn't even want to buy
However structural work and work on areas such as electrics must be done by qualified professionals for safety and for ease of resale.
Buying a renovation project is also usually a successful way to get yourself moved onto a street or into an area that you can't afford if you purchased a house that required no work.
And if you budget correctly and spend money on the areas of the house that are the most important – usually structural, layout, kitchen and bathroom – you can add value too.
Some renovations are also far more simple than taking a house back to brick and doing a top-to-bottom partial rebuild – for some lucky purchasers the update is just a simple interior design makeover.
But you need to be careful too if this renovation is a stepping stone to a rung higher up the ladder.
Most experts would advise to update a renovation without blowing the lid off the ceiling price for the road.
If the ceiling price is broken you might not see your investment in the property come back to you if you overspend for the area. You can't always rely on a rising market as a way to make money on a renovated property.
It can be a challenge to find a renovation project on the market in the area you want as so many of them have been bought and updated in the last decade thanks to property TV programmes like Homes Under The Hammer.
And some may not be suitable for raising a mortgage and only within the property hunting ground for cash buyers, which as the price goes up could be impossible for many potential buyers.
But there are still some houses stuck in the past, frozen in time, rundown and tired, or sliding towards dereliction that can be found to renovate and update.
Which one of these houses would you bag and begin to transform into your family home?
Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire: £100,000
This is a beast of a property that offers six bedrooms but also months of renovation work to totally unlock its full potential.
Located in the waterside town of Milford Haven, the beauty of the Pembrokeshire coast is on the doorstep, as are days out exploring the surrounding countryside.
But back at this doorstep and this house has enough space to rework into the home of your dreams – but if it is to be for the family the potential downside is a small garden, mainly to the side of the property.
The property already has planning in place for the conversion of the house into four flats but the new owner may want to be understandably greedy and keep all the space to themselves as one large home.
Call Brett Property on 01646 663951 to find out more.
Llanelli, Carmarthenshire: £125,000
For offers in the region of this asking price you're getting a standard three-bed semi that can offer you a stepping stone to Swansea for city shopping one way and the beautiful beaches of Gower Peninsula and the pretty coastal towns of Laugharne and Tenby the other way.
Back at base there is modernisation work to do here but it appears that the home has been well-loved and looked after for decades.
The property offers the traditional layout for a semi-detached house from this era. Downstairs there are two reception rooms, a kitchen, and a cloakroom, with the potential to extend, subject to planning consents.
The first floor has two double bedrooms, one with built-in wardrobes, and a further third bedroom with a family bathroom on the same level.
There is a gated driveway that leads to the side of the property for off-road parking and there is a detached garage too. The garden has a family-friendly lawn, storage shed, and greenhouse.
This house is on the market for offers in the region of £125,000 with John Francis. Call the Llanelli branch on 01554 773051 for more information.
Goodwick, Pembrokeshire: £149,950
A semi-detached in the popular Pembrokeshire coastal town of Goodwick sounds a bit like a bargain for the space on offer.
Not only has it got the four double bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs but it's got four large reception rooms downstairs.
One of these is actually a former commercial unit with shop front and potential. With planning consent in place for the business you would like to operate out of the unit this house could be your home and your workplace. Or you could integrate the shop unit into the main dwelling.
According to the estate agent, the house has got uPVC double glazing and partial E7 electric heating and a detached garage.
There's a rear concreted patio and an elevated sloping garden area with access off Goodwick Hill so oodles of space inside and outside and an impressive amount of potential to realise.
This house is for sale for £149,950 with JJ Morris. Call their Fishguard branch on 01348 873836 to find out more.
Menai Bridge, Anglesey: £195,000
Pop over the water of the Menai Strait to Anglesey and there's potentially a lot more property on offer for your money.
In this waterside town this terrace house has three floors, five bedrooms, and one partial sea view from the second floor.
The agent selling this house states that the property has been somewhat neglected but has more recently begun its restoration journey.
The present owner has started doing much remedial work by removing loose plasterwork and uncovering ceilings while installing lining to the principal chimney located in the sitting room (perfect for a multi-fuel stove) and the fitment of new uPVC double glazing with only two windows left to do.
Originally the second floor had two large bedrooms but an additional room has been created with the idea of creating a supplementary bathroom.
There's bundles of potential here to create a fine period dream home however much work is still required. Chat to the Bangor branch of Dafydd Hardy on 01248 371212 to find out more.
Swansea: £210,000
This traditional three-bed semi-detached home is a great renovation project well-located near the Swansea DVLA offices and schools to make it a perfect family home with options for work.
Situated within the Morriston area of the city the well-loved home just needs some updating to turn it into a more modern property.
The potential is undeniable with two large reception rooms, a galley kitchen, and a sun room that are presently separate but with consent could be reworked or extended to create a more family-focused open-plan space.
Three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs and a good-sized back garden completes the offering. The house is for sale for £210,000 with Astleys Residential. Call them on 01792 655891 to find out more.
Pwllheli, Gwynedd: £225,000
On the south coast of the gorgeous Llyn Peninsula is a great place to be for a choice of peaceful countryside, stunning sea views from coastal path walks and days at the beach – the choice and variety that can be found in the area means you'll never grow tired of exploring.
Pretty coastal towns to discover include Abersoch and Porthmadog on the south coast of the peninsula and Nefyn and Porth Oer in the whistling sands on the north shores.
And with Snowdonia National Park and Portmeirion both just a drive away Gwynedd is a great nature-based region of Wales to call home and this renovation project just might offer you the space as well as the location.
Called Goleufryn the house is a six-bed, mid-terrace family home with options and choice for layout as well as the chance to extend into the garden if planning allows.
Most of the property benefits from gas central heating, double glazing, and an enclosed rear garden and it's conveniently located for the centre of town on the days when exploring further afield is not planned.
Call estate agent Susan Jones Properties to find out more on 01758 614511.
Chepstow, Monmouthshire: £250,000
There's lots to love about mid-century homes – space, light, and simple but effective design layout, and usually a decent-sized family garden too.
But finding one with some of its original 1960s or 1970s decor still intact is a bonus if you love retro interior design.
Nostalgic decor and the mid-century era in particular is having a renaissance at the moment, especially the classic and timeless design pieces. Find out more about that here.
So this three-bed semi in this popular border town is a joy to behold as it appears to still be housing its 1960s kitchen.
It's within walking distance of the town centre and castle too so once you've finished your day of upgrading and updating it means socialising and shopping are just a stroll away.
The house is on the market with a guide price of £250,000. Contact Archer & Co at their Chepstow office on 01291 626262 for more details.
Help with your hunt for a home here:
Cardiff: £280,000
If a home that comes from the Edwardian era is your heart's property desire and you want it in a popular city suburb that has all the amenities you could want for a thriving social life then maybe this renovation project in Cardiff's Canton area is ideal.
Inside the bay-fronted semi has lots of lovely original features to restore including Minton floor tiles in the hall, a beautiful wooden staircase, dado rails, and some fireplaces showcasing different eras of design.
The ground floor has a typical original layout of two large reception rooms and a kitchen and there's room to expand into the rear garden to create a stunning and sociable kitchen diner.
Upstairs two double bedrooms, a box room, and a bathroom await as does a potential loft conversion if planning allows.
The house is for sale for offers in excess if £280,000 with Darlows. Call the Canton office on 029 2022 5551 to find out more.
Newport: £300,000
According to the agent selling this family home it's a rare opportunity to purchase a larger-than-average semi-detached period property on exceptionally sought after Cwm Lane, a brief drive from the M4 and within excellent school catchment.
Inside the interior design style of choice appears to be a homage to a country cottage and there's been a real commitment to that theme – from the exposed stone wall in the hall to the exposed ceiling beams in the kitchen.
However, if it's not for you, the house offers superb potential to create a dream home for the family with accommodation that includes a spacious double reception room, breakfast room, good size kitchen, refurbished first-floor bathroom, superb level lawn gardens, and a driveway to garage.
A start has been made with a stylish and modern bathroom – it's now up to the next owner to complete the renovation job.
Call estate agent Crook and Blight on 01633 222333 to find out more.
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